Bu Sk 4646. Stuffing the cheeks
Pāli / Sanskrit:Avagaṇḍakāraka
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Avagaṇḍakāraka (Sekhiya 46)
On Stuffing Food into the Cheeks
Background
In the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, the training rules (Vinaya Nidāna) are recorded to protect the practice of the monastic community. The Avagaṇḍakāraka rule is included in the Sekhiyā (Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha)—the training rules set forth specifically for bhikkhunīs. The term "avagaṇḍakāraka" describes the act of stuffing or puffing out the cheeks without swallowing, a manner of eating regarded as lacking in diligence and incompatible with the meditative composure expected of female monastics.
The context of this rule arises from regulations governing daily conduct, intended to maintain the discipline and dignity of the Saṅgha. The Buddha established specific behaviors to be avoided in order to protect the honor, internal discipline, and spiritual resolve of the community of female monastics in the eyes of the public.
Main Content
This rule stipulates that bhikkhunīs should not chew food and then store it in the cheeks (avagaṇḍa) without swallowing or continuing to eat. This action is prohibited because it displays carelessness, a lack of self-restraint, and is incompatible with the calm composure and full awareness (sampajañña) that the Buddha-Dhamma requires.
This rule may be understood as part of the fundamental customs of eating. When eating, a female monastic must maintain clear mindfulness at every moment: from the time food enters the mouth, through the process of chewing, to the act of swallowing. Stuffing the cheeks without completing this process is a form of negligence that may lead to unintended actions or a loss of self-control. This is not a major moral transgression, but it is an important detail of training, for it reflects the degree of mindfulness and self-discipline of the monastic.
This rule also relates to the maintenance of the dignified image of the Saṅgha. A female monastic with sunken cheeks and a puffed-out mouth would not appear composed or dignified, and might evoke in those who observe her negative impressions or a sense of contempt.
Practical Significance
The rule concerning "not stuffing the cheeks"
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